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Young person

Information about support services and government benefits you may be eligible for if you are a young person.

Government benefits

As a student, you may be eligible to receive Centrelink payments to help you with the cost of living.

You may be able to apply for:

  • Youth Allowance (if you are under 24 years old and a student or apprentice)
  • Youth Allowance for job seekers (if you are under 21 years old and looking for work)
  • Austudy (if you are over 25 years old and a student or apprentice)
  • ABSTUDY (if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student or apprentice).

To find out what payments you are eligible for, see Payment and Service Finder tool on the Centrelink website. 

Leaving school

After you complete your high school, there are many things you can do to prepare for your future.

For example, you can:

  • get your own tax file number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office, if you don’t have one
  • create a myGov account and link to your Centrelink online account
  • get your own Medicare card.

For more information, see Leaving secondary school on the Services Australia website.

If you get in trouble with the law and you get a fine, you can get help.

Leaving state or foster care

Your caseworker will start making your leaving care plan with you when you turn 15 years old.

If you have left state or foster care, you can apply for:

  • Rent Choice Youth
  • Independent Living Allowance

Rent Choice Youth is a program for young people aged between 16 and 24 years to find a place to live, get approved for a lease, pay the rent up to three years. You will be linked to a support worker to help you work towards your goals.

For more information, see Rent Choice Youth on the Communities & Justice website.

From 1 February 2023, young people who have recently left out-of-home care, can access the new Independent Living Allowance. This is a $250 fortnightly payment to help with your accommodation and essential living expenses.

For more information, see Independent Living Allowance on the Department of Communities and Justice website.

For more information about services and support to help you transition to living independently, see Leaving care information for young people on the NSW Government website.

Health services

When you turn 15 years old, you can apply for your own Medicare card.

For information on visiting doctors, getting your own Medicare card and accessing other health services, see Health services for young people on the NSW Government website. 

Contact us

If you have a legal problem in NSW, Legal Aid NSW is here to help you.

Childrens Legal Service

This service advises and represents children and young people under 18 involved in criminal cases and Apprehended Violence Order applications in the Children's Courts.

Youth Hotline

This service provides telephone legal advice to young people under 18 who have criminal law problems or who are in police custody.

Best for Kids

This website has legal information for young people and their families, about family separation, going into care, domestic violence, the police, and legal problems in day-to-day life.

Get street smart: Under 18? Know your legal rights

This booklet information about your rights when you’re dealing with police on the streets in NSW.

Get work ready

This booklet explains your rights at work, and where you can get help if those rights are not respected.

Under 18? Going to court? Get court smart!

This pocketbook tells you how things work in the Children's Court, what you can expect and tips on how to prepare for court.

What are my legal rights?

This is a handbook for young people explaining your legal rights in common everyday problems and what you can do to resolve issues like unpaid fines, tenancy problems, debts and more.

When can I?

This factsheet has information for young people about when they can legally do stuff in NSW.